Insertion Stop for Preventing Overinsertion in Plastic Pipe Systems

Abstract

A method is shown for joining and sealing a female plastic pipe end having a belled end opening to a mating male plastic pipe end having an interior surface and an exterior surface. A sealing element is installed within a groove formed in the belled end of the female pipe section. The male pipe end is then inserted into the end opening of the female pipe end so that the elastomeric sealing gasket makes sealing contact with the exterior surface of the male pipe. A control mechanism located on the exterior surface of the male pipe end controls the distance the male pipe travels longitudinally within the end opening of the female plastic pipe to prevent overinsertion of the male pipe within the female pipe opening

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic pipe connection designed to prevent overinsertion of a male, spigot plastic pipe end within a mating female, belled plastic pipe end in forming sealed connections in pipeline installations, comprising:
 a female plastic pipe end having a belled end with an end opening and a circumferential groove formed adjacent the end opening;   a mating male, spigot plastic pipe end having an interior surface and exterior surface;   a sealing element in the form of an elastomeric sealing gasket installed within the groove formed in the belled end of the female pipe section; and   a control mechanism for controlling the distance the male, spigot pipe end travels longitudinally within the end opening, of the female, belled plastic pipe end to thereby prevent overinsertion of the male pipe end within the female pipe end opening, the control mechanism comprising an external stop provided on the exterior of the male plastic pipe end, the external stop being made up of an elastomeric stop ring together with an associated clamp ring, the elastomeric stop ring having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having an internal diameter which is selected to be closely received over the exterior surface of the male, spigot plastic pipe end so that the ring member frictionally engages the exterior surface.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring frictional engagement on the exterior surface of the male, spigot plastic pipe end allows the stop ring to slip when a predetermined level of engagement force is exerted on the stop ring by the female pipe end during the assembly of the male pipe end and the female pipe end. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 2 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring is formed of rubber, 
     
     
         4 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 3 , wherein the associated clamp ring is formed of steel. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 4 , wherein the c amp ring is a hose clamp. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring exterior surface has a circumferential recessed area formed between at least a leading lip region. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 6 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring exterior surface has a U-shaped circumferential recessed area formed between a leading lip region and a trailing lip region. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 7 , wherein the circumferential recessed area on the exterior surface of the elastomeric stop ring, forms a circumferential raceway for receiving the associated clamp ring. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic pipe connection of  claim 8 , wherein the leading lip region of the elastomeric stop ring is connected by an outer vertical sidewall region to a base region of the elastomeric stop ring, and wherein the outer vertical sidewall region, together with the leading lip region, for a rubber region of sufficient thickness to act as a bumper when the belled plastic pipe end contacts the elastomeric stop ring. 
     
     
         10 . A method of joining and sealing a female plastic pipe end having a belled end with an end opening to a mating male plastic pipe end having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sealing element in the form of an elastomeric sealing gasket, the gasket being installed within a groove formed adjacent the end opening in the belled pipe end of the female pipe section;   inserting the male pipe end into the end opening of the female pipe end so that the elastomeric sealing gasket makes sealing contact with the exterior surface of the male pipe end;   providing, a control mechanism for controlling the distance the male pipe end travels longitudinally within the end opening of the female plastic pipe end to thereby prevent overinsertion of the male pipe end within the female pipe opening, the control mechanism being an external stop provided on, the exterior of the male plastic pipe end, the external stop being comprised of an elastomeric stop ring together with an associated clamp ring, the elastomeric stop ring having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having an internal diameter which is selected to be closely received over the exterior surface of the male, spigot plastic pipe end so that the ring member frictionally engages the exterior surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring frictional engagement on the exterior surface of the male, spigot plastic pipe end allows the stop ring to slip when a predetermined level of engagement force is exerted on the stop ring by the female pipe end during the assembly of the male pipe end and the female pipe end. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring is formed of rubber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the associated clamp ring is formed of steel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the clamp ring is a hose clamp. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring exterior surface has a circumferential recessed area formed between at least a leading lip region. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric stop ring exterior surface has a U-shaped circumferential recessed area formed between a leading lip region and a trailing lip region. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the circumferential recessed area on the exterior surface of the elastomeric stop ring forms a circumferential raceway for receiving the associated clamp ring. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the leading lip region of the elastomeric stop ring is connected by an outer vertical sidewall region to a base region of the elastomeric stop ring, and wherein the outer vertical sidewall region, together with the leading lip region, for a rubber region of sufficient thickness to act as a bumper when the belied plastic pipe end contacts the elastomeric stop ring. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a companion restraint mechanism is provided for the elastomeric sealing ring which allows movement of the mating male pipe relative to the belled end of the female pipe in a first longitudinal direction but which restrains movement in a second, opposite relative direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the restraint mechanism comprises a ring shaped housing having a circumferential interior region and a companion gripping insert which is delivered with and contained within the circumferential interior region of the housing, the gripping insert having an exterior surface and an interior gripping surface with at least one row of gripping teeth for gripping the exterior surface of the male plastic pipe end.